Upgrade laptop cpu from i5 to i7

[Nauris Dardzans]

Hi! I want to know if I can upgrade my laptops CPU. I have a HP Pavilion dv6-2105ea with 2.27GHz core i5 430M. I found a website where are the compatible CPUs, but I don't know if I can trust it, because my curent CPU doesn't show up on the list. http/www.cpu-upgrade.com/mb-Intel_(chipsets)/PM55_Express.html (Copy and paste the full link otherwise it doesn't work)


So I decided to go with core i7 620M, but I want to be sure that it is compatible.

Here are some specs I got from CPU-Z

Intel core i5 430M @2.27Ghz
Socket 989 rPGA

Chipset Intel Havendale/Clarkdale Host Bridge
PM55

Any other specs needed please ask! Need to know ASAP! Thanks!

 

[ajpaolello]

CAN you? In theory, yes. SHOULD you? I strongly advise against it. Laptop parts don't have the same flexibility as desktops. And if something goes wrong, that could fry your whole laptop.

 

[Barty1884]

Most Mobile CPU (xxxM) are generally soldered to the motherboard. Replacing them, if at all possible, is generally not financially viable. Any upgrade potential would be limited by other factors in a laptop. PSU/Cooling etc.

My vote would be to buy a new laptop.

 

[gangrel]

It looks like it MIGHT be possible. It depends; these processors came in both BGA and PGA forms. If it's BGA, it's permanently attached and not upgradeable. If it's PGA, I don't think it's a big problem to swap. They are the same timeline, and if they're both listed under that chipset, then I think it would work.

BUT, the performance improvement isn't that great:

http/www.cpu-world.com/Compare/734/Intel_Core_i5_Mobile_i5-430M_(PGA988)_vs_Intel_Core_i7_Mobile_i7-620M_(PGA988).html

I certainly wouldn't order the i7 until I knew if I had a BGA or PGA version. And BGA is cheaper...so it's more likely.

 

[Nauris Dardzans]

CAN you? In theory, yes. SHOULD you? I strongly advise against it. Laptop parts don't have the same flexibility as desktops. And if something goes wrong, that could fry your whole laptop.

Thanks for your advice, but I still want to know if it is compatible and then decide whether to upgrade or not.

Here are some pics from CPU-Z

 

[ajpaolello]

I don't know if anyone here can give you a clear cut answer. There's a reason people just buy a new laptop instead of trying to upgrade; it's just not worth the effort.

 

[Nauris Dardzans]

It looks like it MIGHT be possible. It depends; these processors came in both BGA and PGA forms. If it's BGA, it's permanently attached and not upgradeable. If it's PGA, I don't think it's a big problem to swap. They are the same timeline, and if they're both listed under that chipset, then I think it would work.

BUT, the performance improvement isn't that great:

http/www.cpu-world.com/Compare/734/Intel_Core_i5_Mobile_i5-430M_(PGA988)_vs_Intel_Core_i7_Mobile_i7-620M_(PGA988).html

I certainly wouldn't order the i7 until I knew if I had a BGA or PGA version. And BGA is cheaper...so it's more likely.

How can I tell if it is PGA or BGA? Do I have to take the laptop apart? Will the CPU be soldered to the board as Barty1884 suggested?

 

[Nauris Dardzans]

I don't know if anyone here can give you a clear cut answer. There's a reason people just buy a new laptop instead of trying to upgrade; it's just not worth the effort.

Well the reason for me wanting to upgrade instead of buying a new laptop is that I don't have that much money for a new laptop this powerful and the laptop I have just needs a small upgrade for it to suit my needs.

 

[Nauris Dardzans]

Yes.. That core i7 620M will be a compatible and in fact decent upgrade from the i5 430M in the HP Pavilion dv6-2105ea. What makes the upgrade possible ?
The i5 430M is not soldered onto the motherboard and can be easily removed and replaced with the i7 620M.
They both have the same sockets type (Socket G1)
They both have the same L1 and L2 caches
The both have the same TDP (35 W)
Same amount of cores and threads (2 and 4 respectively)

Enjoy your upgrade!

Thank you very much man! I will also upgrade my laptops RAM from 3GB (1x1GB and 1x2GB) to 8GB (2x4GB) Hoping that it will boost up the performance for my laptop.

 

[Nauris Dardzans]

Yes.. That core i7 620M will be a compatible and in fact decent upgrade from the i5 430M in the HP Pavilion dv6-2105ea. What makes the upgrade possible ?
The i5 430M is not soldered onto the motherboard and can be easily removed and replaced with the i7 620M.
They both have the same sockets type (Socket G1)
They both have the same L1 and L2 caches
The both have the same TDP (35 W)
Same amount of cores and threads (2 and 4 respectively)

Enjoy your upgrade!

Thank you very much man! I will also upgrade my laptops RAM from 3GB (1x1GB and 1x2GB) to 8GB (2x4GB) Hoping that it will boost up the performance for my laptop.

You are most welcome..... That upgrade of processor and massive upgrade of RAM will certainly give you a far better performance..

This RAM should work well together with that i7 620M right? Because I know it is compatible with the laptop http/www.crucial.com/ProductDisplay?urlRequestType=Base&catalogId=10151&categoryId=&productId=12041&errorViewName=ProductDisplayErrorView&langId=-1&top_category=&parent_category_rn=&storeId=10151

 

[Nauris Dardzans]

Yes.. That core i7 620M will be a compatible and in fact decent upgrade from the i5 430M in the HP Pavilion dv6-2105ea. What makes the upgrade possible ?
The i5 430M is not soldered onto the motherboard and can be easily removed and replaced with the i7 620M.
They both have the same sockets type (Socket G1)
They both have the same L1 and L2 caches
The both have the same TDP (35 W)
Same amount of cores and threads (2 and 4 respectively)

Enjoy your upgrade!

Thank you very much man! I will also upgrade my laptops RAM from 3GB (1x1GB and 1x2GB) to 8GB (2x4GB) Hoping that it will boost up the performance for my laptop.

You are most welcome..... That upgrade of processor and massive upgrade of RAM will certainly give you a far better performance..

This RAM should work well together with that i7 620M right? Because I know it is compatible with the laptop http/www.crucial.com/ProductDisplay?urlRequestType=Base&catalogId=10151&categoryId=&productId=12041&errorViewName=ProductDisplayErrorView&langId=-1&top_category=&parent_category_rn=&storeId=10151

Yes... DDR3-1600 .....good to go.. Ensure that the two you order are the same thing..

Thanks for all your help! Will do that!